Electrolytic gas generator



2 SHEETS-SHEE I.

Patented Nov. 7, 1922..

|. H.' LEVIN.

ELECTROLYTIC GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED-DEC. 28, 1920.

A TTORNEY Patented Nov. 7, 1922.

UNITED sTATEs i 2 Arsnr orties.y

ISAAC H. LEVIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ELECTROLYTIC OXY-HYDROGEN LABORATORIES, INC., 0F `N'EW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTROLYTIC GAS GENERATOR.

Original application 1ed May 22, 1917, Serial No. 170,125. Divided and this application filed December 28, 1920. Serial No. 433,735.

To (LIZ fuilwm t may concern.:

Bey .it -known that I. ISAAC H. Lnvm, a citizen ot the United States, and a resident ot the borough ot Manhattan, in the city, county, and. Sta-te ot New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in llectrolytic Gas Generators, ot which the Following is a. full, clear, concise and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which the invention relates to make and use the same, reference being' made therein to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part ot this specilication, this present application being a division ot my application for patent tor electrolytic gas generators tiled upon the 22nd day ot May, 1917, Serial Number 170,125.

My invention relates to electrolytic gas generators designed to produce hydrogen and oxygen gases by subjecting' water containing a small quantity of a suitable electrolyte such, for example, as potassium hydroxide, sulphuric acid, etc., to the action ot a current of electricity which is caused to tlow therethrough; the electrolyte being' dissociated by the water, oxygen being liberated at the positive electrode or anode of the generator, and hydrogen at the negative electrede or cathode; all in accordance with the well known phenomena commonly referred to as the decoml'iosition of water by mea-ns olz a current of electricity.

My invention relates particularly to that type or class ot electrolytic `ras generators in which the liquid acted upon contained in a suitable receptacle or casing made up ot two or more parts or casing members elec trically insulated from one another. and in which the casing` members themselves form the electrodes trom which the current passes into and through the liquid, the conductors through which current is supplied to the `generator being connected directly to the easing' members and said members being made of metal, so that the current may How through them and into the liquid: as distinguished 'from elcctrolytic gas generators in which the electrodes are independent ot and are insulated from the casing' which contains the liquid. acted upon.

The objects of my .invention are to provide an electrolytic gas generator oic the type or kind above referred to wherein an improved torm and arrangement of casinfT members 'are employed, whereby lower elect trical resistance and increased gas generating capacity are secured; to provid an mproved. electrolytic gas generator' in which the casing 1s made up of a plurality of parts or sections secured together, whereby a generator or greater gas generating` lcapacity than a generator having a casing made up ot two parts or sections, and a `generator ot' greatly reduced resistance. is secured; to provide an electrolytic .gas generator in which the sections of the casino' form the electrodes, and in which a porousliaphragm or .diaphragms whereby the interior ot the casing` is divided into two or more compartments, is non-conducting in characten as distinguished from loein made otl metal as has heretofore been the case, to provide a plan and arrangement whereby one or more separate and distinct gas `generating` units ot.' the type or class above referred to may be connected with and adapted to discharge into a single pair of otftake conduits; to provide an improved device tor supplying' liquid to the various compartments within the casing' ot electrolytic lgas generators and which device serves also as ai safety device in case the pressure within the compartment which it supplies becomes too great, and as an outlet for the gas produced within the compartment should the liquid in any particular compartment or in the casing'r as a whole become so low-as to interfere with the proper oiieration ot the `generator: to pro vide improved means .tor supl'ioitinggl `ras `generatine' devices ot the type. herein referred to from the :door or support provided tor them; and to otherwise improve upon and enhance the efficiency oi? electrolyt-ic `as `eenerating devices of the ,general type or kind to which my invention relates.

Tith the above enumerated and other objects ot invention in view my invention conin the improved electrolytic gras generator and component elements, parts.V and Jfeatures thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter described and particularly claimed. and in such variations and modifications thereof as will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates.

ln the drawings accompanying and formlOO ing a part of this Specification and wherein the preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated: n

Figure l is a view illustrating` one form ot my improved electrolytic gas generator,

mainly in side elevation, but broken away in places to show features of internal elements of the device;

Figure Q is a view illustrating my improved generator in section and upon a vertically extending transverse plane indicated by the line 2, f2, Figure l;

Figure 3 is a plan view showing an improved water supply, outlet, and safety device employed 'for supplying water to the various compartments within the casing ot my gas generating device, upon a considerably enlarged scale;

Figure l is a view showing a section oi the said water supply device upon a horizontal plane indicated by the line 4, et, Figures 5 and G;

Figures 5 and 6 are views showing sections of the water supply device upon longitudinally extending vertical planes indicated by the lines 5 and 6, 6, Figure 3;

Figures 7 and S are views showing sections of the said device upon transversely extending vertical planes indicated by the lines 7, 7 and 8, 8, Figure 3;

Figure 9 is a view showing two gas generating units otl a form diifering from the forms shown in the other views, in end elevation, and as adapted to discharge into single pair of gas otftake conduits or mains;

Figure l0 is a view illustrating one of the gas generating elements shown in Figure 9 in side elevation, and broken away to show features of interior construction; and,

Figure 1l is a fragmentary view illustrating certain indicating devices ordinarily employed in all forms ot my generator, and through which the gases produced flow, although the said devices are omitted in the form of my device shown in Figures l and 2.

Referring lirst tu Figiiues Il and 2, the casing ot the Igenerator illustrated therein is made up otl three parts or sections secured together but insulated trom one another, the end section members being alike in form and the single intermediate section being functionally the equivalent of two end sections; so that the capacity of a generator having a three part casing is substantially the same as that of two generators the casings of which are in two parts (as illustrated in Figures 9 and 10), while the cost,r weight, and space occupied by a single three section generator are materially less than would be the case if two generators each made up of two casing sections were employed. The end section members each com prise an end wall 20 of large area, and a peripheral wall 21 of comparatively slight length or height measured away from the end wall, and which peripheral or side wall' terminates in a i'iange 22; while the intermediate section comprises a central web or wall 23 corresponding` in area and function with theend walls 20, and a peripheral wall 2aextending upon each side ci said central wall a distance corresponding approximately vwith the height of the peripheral walls 2l ot the end section members. The three casing members are preferably connected together as shown by means of a plurality ot clamping members 25 sufficiently numerous to prevent leakage from the casing; although they may obviously be secured together by means of bolts if deemed necessary or desirable. Suitable paclring strips 2G made ot insulating material are interposed between the meeting' edges of the casing members whereby tight joints are secured and the casing members are insulated from one another, and suitable conductors are to be connected with terminalsA Q7, 28 through which the generator may be supplied with current: the casing members being made oi' metal` ineterably iron, so that they serve as electrodes, and the terminals ot the outer sections being both connected with one conductor and that ot the inner with the other, so that the outer sections are bot-h oit one polarity and the inner of the other, as indicated and as will be understood.

The construction above described provides section members which may properly be reierred to as recessed, and the casing` formed by securing them together will have two internal liquid containing compartments ot large area, but ot comparatively slight depth measured from the wall 2O toward the wall so that the resistance of the generator will be small, and, in order to provide a greater area ot' contact between the casing members and the liquid within the casing and to further reduce the resistance of the generator the inner surfaces oit the end walls 20, and both sides oi: the web or wall Q3 (which is in effect an end wall for both th liquid compartments), are provided with ribs 29 extending toward one another and into the liquid compartments, as shown.

Located within the liquid containing compartments and serving to divide the same into substantially equal parts are porous diaphragms 80 made preferably of asbestos and the purpose of which is to prevent the gases produced from mingling as they pass upward through the liquid, the said diaphragms in effect dividing each liquid compartment into the chambers one ot' which when the generator is in operation contains bubbles oit oxygen gas passing upwards through the liquid, while bubbles ot hydro gen gas pass upward through the liquid in the other chamber. The porous diaphragms S0 are secured to and carried by trame members having upper portions Si which iorm llO non-pervious partitions and divide the upper end of the interior of the casing so as to provide two gas chambers S2 in Whichfgas of one kind accumulates, and a third gas chamber U3 in which gas of the other ki ud accumulates; said frame members having oppositely located depending side portions, one of Which is shown at 84s, and a bottom bar or strip 38 shown in dotted lines in Figure l; thus providing an opening in the frame along` and around the edge of which the periphery of the diaphragm is secured. The bottom bar 38 carries means for establishing a passage from one chamber to anH other comprising tivo recessedchannels or open sided cups 39, 4t() each having ait-lange 4l extending along the bottom and up the sides thereof and through which flanges, bottom bar, and diaphragm screws or rivets extend, whereby the channels are held in place and supported by the bottom bar. A hole 42 is located at the bottom of the channels and extends through the bottom bar 38 and diaphragm; and the purpose of the elements here referred to is to establish a passage 381 from one side of the diaphragm to the other through which liquid may flow to equalize the pressure and level of the liquid upon the two sides of the diaphragm, While at. the same time preventing` the passage of bubbles of gas from one side thereof to the other. A'

like device shown at S5 in Figure l only is provided to permit a flow of liquid from one chamber to the other at the upper end of the casing, which device need not` it isbe- .lieved, be described in detail.

Liquid issupplied to the liquid compartments provided by the diaphragmsl through conduits 86, and safety devices 87 shown in Figures 3 to 8 and hereinafter described at length; and the gases flow from the gas chambers through outlet conduits S8 for one kind. of gas, and S9 for the' other, in which conduits suitable indicating devices or lanterns to be hereinafter vdescribed will be ineluded, as will be appreciated. The entire generator is supported by a foot or bracket f3? 'arried by one only of the casing members, the same being` either formed integrally with a casing section or separate therefrom and secured thereto; and said supporting means will be as long as ymay be deemed necessary to support the generator, and may be provided with strengthening ribs as shown, or may be in the form of two or more supports spaced apart from one another and all carried by one and the same casing member, all according to the exigencies of the case and the choice of the maker or user of my gas generating device. This construction of support prevents the sections of the generator from becoming short eircuited through the base orisupport, `as is liable to happen with ythe use of a support .insulated from but which affords support to casing members of opposite polarity, and provides a construction in which the support need not be insulated from the generator casing, as Will be appreciated.

The frame members above referred to may be made of any suitable material and are packed and insulated from the casing` niembers by means of packing strips 26, as shown; and the pervious or porous diaphragms carried by said frame members are made from a. non-metallic insulating material in order that they may under no circumstances become in effect electrodes. This is of importance in generators in which the casing members serve also as electrodes, for the reason that in such a generator if the electromotive force between any tivo sections separated by a diaphragm becomes greater than about 3.5 volts (this being about twice the voltage necessary to accomplish the decomposition of Water as will be appreciated), then if a metallic diaphragm is used the fall of potential bet-Ween it and each adjacent casing member will be sufHcient to decompose Water, and both hydrogen and oxygen may be produced in the generating chambers upon each side of the diaphragm in. question. No .such action isv possible, however. if the diapliragm is non-metallic and is a non-conductor 0f electricity, as Will be appreciated, for the said diaphragm can under no circumstances become and actas an electrode.

Liquid is supplied to the liquid containing compartments Within the generator casing through liquid supply conduits 86 and iilling devices Si', one for each casing section, each ot which filling devices provides a tortuous passage communicating` "with the liquid compartment and also with the gas chamber of the sectionovit-h which it is associated. These devices are so designed as to act as safety devices in case the gas pressure becomes too great within the lgas chambers, and also as vents for permitting a free flow of gas from the chambers in case the level of the liquid in the casing becomes too low; the structural features of the said filling devices and their operation being as follows; the same reference numerals being used to designate like parts of them and the description being in the singular, as they are alike in structure and operation. The liquid supply conduits 86 may lead each from a separate filling cup, in which case the liquid supply device or means for each. internal compartment of the generator casing is entirely separate and independent llO from thel liquid supply device for the other y compartment or compartments; or, the said supply conduits may all lead from a single 'supply trough or receptacle, as shown in VFigure 9inA which case liquid is supplied simultaneously to all the compartments of the casing7 as Will be appreciated.

yReferring now to Figures 3 to 8 which illustrate one of the liquid feed devices 87 in detail, the liquid is supplied through a suitable conduit 86 connected with .the opening 70, and flows downward through a passage 71 and beneath the lower end 72 of a partition 721; then to the right, Figure 5,in front of a partition 74, and backward past the end 75 thereof; then to the left, Figure 6, back of said partition and through a passage 76 cut od' from the passage 71 by a wall 77, Figure 7 then past the lower end of a vertically extending passage 78 and through. an opening 79 into the liquid. chamber; the upper end of the passage 7S and the space above the partition 74. being in open communication with the gas space above the liquid in the compartment supplied by the device.

rlhe. normal water level is indicated by the line A B, and, as liquid carrying bubbles of is forced backward through the passage above traced due to slight variations of gas pressure the gas will separate therefrom and pass into the chamber through the openings at the upper end of the passage 7 8 and above the partition 7 Ll; while if the pressure becomes too great for a longer time liquid will be `forced back through said passage until the excess pressure is relieved. @n the other hand if the level of the liquid falls below the level indicated by the line C D either as the result of back flow due to too great gas pressure, or because of a failure to supply liquid to the generator when needed, then the gas will pass through the open top of the chamber above the partition 7l, beneath thelower end 72 of the partition 73, and up the passage 71 to the atmosphere; there being no liquid in the device to seal the lower end oit-the passage 71 when the level. of liquid falls below the lower end 72 of the partition 73, will be appreciated. YFigures 9 to 1l illustrate a. form of my ivention in Awhich' the casing of the genery :ttor is made up of two casing members or sections 90, 91 secured together and having a. frame member 92 held in place between the meeting edges of the casing members, and the upper end 93 of which forms a par tition as hereinbefore explained indescrib ing the form of my invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2; and 9a designates a porous diaphragm carried by said partition and dividing the interior of .the casing into tvo compartments the upper ends of which are gas chambers, as will be appreciated.

` The gases produced flow from the gas chambers through outlet conduits 95, 96 and into gas mains 97, 98; said conduits including suitable indicating devices r0r lanterns 99, 100 comprising glass cylinders held between suitable heads and containiner water through which the gas passes in the form of bubbles, as indicated in Figure. 11, thereby providinga visible indication as to whether or not the gasesr are flowing properly from the generator,.said devices being similar in construction and operation to the equivalent devices illustrated and described in my patent for electrolytic gas generator No. 1,219,- 906 dated March 20th, 1917.

The indicating devices above referred to a are insulating in character, and additional insulating means in the form of sections 101, 102 of non-conductor tubing are preferably included in said gas outlet conduits in order to more completely insulate the casing sections from the metallic gas otltake mains; it being extremely important in gas generators wherein the casing members form electrodes that the said members be insulated from one another as completely as possible, as otherwise the casing members will be short circuited through the oftake gas conduits and mains, or a serious loss of current will occur if the insulation provided in said conduits is defective in any appreciable eX- tent.

Figure shows a plurality of gas generating units all insulated from and discharg ing into a. single pair of gasoifta-ke mains, the separate units being supported by in Sula-ting 'members or ,blocks` 103 having projections 104 which prevent-the generating units which they support from being placed too near one another; the separate unit-s being supported by and through brackets 1053 carried by one only of the sections thereof, as hereinbefore explained. In the arrangement here referred to the filling receptacles 106 for supplying liquid to the separate units are of the type disclosed in my patent above referred to; and they are shouf'n as connected with through conduits having insulating sections 117, and with the casing sections through conduits having insulating sections 108, in order to prevent leakage of current through the liquid. supply means, as will be appreciated.

The packing or rather combined packing and insulating strips employed between the meeting edges of the casing members and elsewhere about my generator, and which have been usually referred to simply as packing members or strips, arev made yfrom special packing and insulating material which 1 have found to be especially effective in and particularly well adapted forr use wherever such amaterial is used in electrolytic gas generating devices; the said material being composed of a plurality of layers or thin asbestos felt, each coated with rubber or equivalent.materia-l, and all the layers being pressed together and preferably vulcanized to a greater or less extent by the incorporation of sulphur with the rubber,

one another whereby an insulating and packing strip made up oi layers of asbestos and rubber vulcanized to a greater or less degree is secured.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is

l. In an electrolytic gas generator, a casing comprising three recessedv casing members insulated from one another and secured together' whereby two internal liquid containing compartiments are provided, and which casing members form electrodes for the generator; two iframe members held in place one between the meet-ing edges of each two adjacent casing members, and the upper ends ot which form partitions whereby three gas chambers are provided within said casing; two porous diaphragms tormed from non-metallic material located within said casing and carried one by each of said frame members: means :for supplyii'ig liquid to the interior oi said casing; and a gas outlet conduit leading from each of said gas chambers.

Q. In an electrolytic gas generator, a casing comprising three recessed casing members insulated from one another and secured together whereby two internal liquid containing compartments are provided, and which casing members form electrodes for the generator; two porous diaphragms located within said casingand serving to divide the same into a plurality of gas generating chambers; two frame members to which said diaphragms are secured and whereby they are supported; means for sup plying liquid to the interior of said casing; and means for conducting the gases pro duced from the interior of said casing.

3. In an electrolytic gas generator, a casing comprising three casing members insulated from one another and secured together, and so shaped as to provide a plurality of internal gas generating chambers, the two outer of said casing members forming electrodcs of like polarity for the generator, and the middle one of said casing members orming an electrode of opposite polarity; two

lporous diaphragms located within said casing and serving to separate said gas generating chambers from one another; two trame members to which. said diaphragms are secured and whereby they are support-- ed; a plurality of liquid supply devices separate and independent from one another, and through which liquid is supplied to the interior of said casing; and means for conducting the gases produced from the interior of said casing. n

4. In an electrolytic gas generator, a casing comprising three casing members insulated from one another and secured together whereby two internal liquid containing compartments are provided, the two outer of said casing members `torming electrodes of like polarity for the generator, and the middle one of said casing members forming an electrode of opposite polarity; two porous diaphragms located one in each of said compartments and serving to divide said compartments each into two gas generating chambers; two frame members to which said diaphragme are secured and whereby they are supported; three liquid supply devices separate and independent from one another and associated one with each of said casing members, and through which liquid is supplied to said gas generating chambers; and means for conductingthc gases produced from the interior of said casing.

5. In an electrolytio gas generator, a casing comprising three casing members insulated irom one another and secured together, and so shaped as to provide a plurality of internal gas generating chambers, the two outer oi said casing members forming electrodes ci' like polarity for the generator, and the middle one of said casing members forming an electrode ot opposite polarity; two porous diaphragms made of non-conducting or insulating material located within said casing and serving to Separate said chambers from one another; means for supplying liquid to the interior of said casing; and means for conducting the gases produced from the interior of said casing.

6. In an electrolytic gas generator, a casing comprising three casing members insulated from one another and secured together, and so shaped as to provide a plurality of internal gas generating chambers, the two outer of said casing members forming electrodes ot like polarity for the generator, and the middle one of said casing members forming an electrode of opposite polarity; two porous diaphragms made of insulating or non-conducting material located Within said casing and serving to separate said gas generating chambers from one another; two frame members held in place between the meeting edges of adjacent casing members and to which said diaphragms are secured; means for supplying liquid to the interior of said casing.

7. In an electrolytic gas generator, a casing comprising a plurality of casing members insulated from one another and secured together, and which casing members form electrodes for the generator and are so shaped as to provide an internal liquid conN taining compartment; a frame member held in place between adjacent casing members; a porous diaphragm made of insulating or non-conducting material carried by said frame member and serving to divide Said compartment into two gas generating chambers; a liquid supply device adapted to sup ply liquid to each of said gas generating Chambers, and which' liquid Supply device is provided Wlth means for preventmg a HOW of gas from one of Saud gas generatmg chamybers to the other; and gas outlet conduits leading 'from said casing.

In Wltness whereof I have hereunto uxed my Slgnature, 1n the presence of two subfitnesses l CHARLES O. DmERTs, ADA GOLLNER. 

